Diving: Sheffield teenager wins silver

Sheffield 17-year-old Freddie Woodward has won a silver medal in the Australian Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney.

The City of Sheffield diver and fellow Briton Sam Thornton were runners-up to China in the 3m synchronised springboard, at the Sydney International Aquatic Centre.

Woodward had earlier set a personal best to finish fifth in the 3m individual springboard with a score of 518.30.

The score for him and Thornton in the synchro event was 325.92.

Woodward said: “I started with the individual competition and got a personal best, so that was great and a really solid way to start.

“That meant I was pumped for the synchronised event and Sam and I put in some good and consistent dives and came away with silver, so I am really pleased.

“China are dominant in diving so it was tough against them and they ultimately won the gold, but going against those guys raises your game as you want to match them.

“Competing in such a great venue was fantastic and I had never dived in an Olympic pool before, so it was a really great feeling and it is amazing to have a medal too.”

Woodward will compete in the 3m springboard knockout on Sunday.

He said: “My performance in the individual event means I have qualified for Sunday’s knockout event and I can’t wait to do that.

“I have a taste for it now and after such a good first day I really want to keep this going.”

The British Olympic Association prepares and leads British athletes at the summer, winter and youth Olympic Games. It works in partnership with sport national governing bodies to enhance Olympic success and is responsible for championing the Olympic values. www.olympics.org.uk.